Celebrate National Family Volunteer Day By Volunteering

When you think of your favorite day in November you are probably thinking of Thanksgiving, but what about Family Volunteer Day? Volunteering can be one of the most rewarding activities for a family to do together. It allows children the opportunity to learn about empathy and gives adults the opportunity to serve others. While acknowledging all of the things you are thankful for this November, consider giving back to the community by volunteering.

National Family Volunteer Day is Saturday, Nov. 16. It is a day to thank those volunteers who dedicate their time to helping others, but it is also a day to get involved in your community. Every contribution counts. If you have been unsure about volunteering in the past, take the plunge this Family Volunteer Day and find out why so many people can’t stop giving back to their community.

Nonprofits like Make-A-Wish, your local food shelf or the Humane Society rely on the work and contributions of volunteers. They provide an important service to the community and are constantly looking for new people to help with the events they have planned. Getting involved is usually fairly easy – as easy as making a phone call and filling out a short form. Maybe you and your family can only help one day a month, maybe it will just be a one-time deal – your help will be appreciated no matter how much you give.

Volunteering As A Family Is Fun!

Volunteering is a great way to bring a family together. Your teenage son or daughter is probably busy with school, extracurricular activities or just spending more time with their friends and less time at home. While you’re thinking of fun activities to do together, consider volunteering. Working together toward a similar goal is a great way to create a special bond. Family volunteering doesn’t mean that the whole family has to take part, use it as some great one-on-one bonding time. Enjoy time together outside of the home this November.

There are no age limits to volunteering. A young child will get a lot out of volunteering, but so will a long-retired senior. Don’t spend time sitting around looking for something to do, there are always places looking for help, every day of the week. Spend time together while helping someone and leave knowing that you’ve done something selfless. Helping others is right and gives an added sense of fulfillment to your life.

There Are Dozens Of Places Near You Looking For Volunteers Today

So, you’ve made the decision to volunteer as a family, but you are unsure where to begin. Think about your interests. Are you an animal lover? Do you want to help children? Do you like teaching? Volunteer Match is a great resource for finding a place to volunteer. You can narrow your search for places that are looking for volunteers by searching for opportunities that match your interests and location. Then choose the best nonprofit for you from the results of your search!

There are a wide variety of options for volunteers. They range from reading to elders to reading to kindergarteners, spending an afternoon folding clothes or spending a morning preparing and serving food. If you like animals and are looking for some peace and quiet, you can walk dogs or pet cats at a local shelter. Want to clean up your community? Try painting park benches, picking up trash or organizing recycling. The options are limitless and everyone is looking for help.

Can’t Volunteer? Provide A Donation

Almost as important as volunteers are donations. Many nonprofits have dedicated staffs who work full time to ensure that the needs of many are met. Unfortunately, those needs are often associated with a number of expenses, which means nonprofits need to raise money to operate. Your local food shelf will take canned food or money to purchase goods for their customers. Shelters need donations to keep the lights on and the food on the table. Supplies are necessary when cleaning up the city, and the pets in the animal shelter all require food to eat and heat in the winter. Your donation can help these kinds of operations continue to grow.

We understand that lives can be hectic and there isn’t always time to volunteer. That’s why those of us at Wheels For Wishes have made donating easy. If you have a vehicle that isn’t running just right, or maybe it’s a perfectly fine vehicle but you are looking for something new – we can take that vehicle off your hands while also helping Make-A-Wish provide wishes for children around the country. You don’t have to worry about selling your car, boat, ATV, motorhome, SUV or motorcycle; we will pick it up and tow it away for absolutely nothing. You will also receive a tax deduction for your donation! You lose nothing but the eyesore from your driveway, and gain the wonderful feeling of knowing that your donation has helped make the wish of a child with a critical illness come true.

The process of donating a car is easy. Just call 1-877-431-9474 or fill out a vehicle donation form online. If you are unsure about how the donation works, one of our many live operators will guide you through the process and answer any and all questions you may have. Even the smallest of things can make a huge difference for people in need in your community. Whether you are planning to volunteer this Nov. 17 or you are planning to make a donation, do something for your community and help make it a better place to live!

CDF's mission is to help these benefitting charities fulfill their missions with proceeds from CDF's car donation programs. CDF and all benefitting charities are separate and unaffiliated 501c organizations.